Interesting to see what numbers the players have been given for the new season,i'm sure Tom will be putting on all the information later,but what do people think about seeing Austin at 21,Akaidere at 2,Jy-Mel at 7,Spaven at 23,then Makali Aizue at number 32! Would be interesting to see if Glenn thinks the squad numbers are important or just numbers.

Interesting to see what numbers the players have been given for the new season,i'm sure Tom will be putting on all the information later,but what do people think about seeing Austin at 21,Akaidere at 2,Jy-Mel at 7,Spaven at 23,then Makali Aizue at number 32! Would be interesting to see if Glenn thinks the squad numbers are important or just numbers.

I'm surpirised GM sees hales as a centre - thought he was a back rower who could play centre at a pinch.

Makes me wonder if those players with the higher numbers are the ''also-rans'' and will be drafted into the squad only when necessary. If GM sees them as merely numbers, then what's the point? Number 21 as a winger and 23 for a scrum half/hooker is ridiculous, but then so is the whole squad number system.

So James Craven gets the no.1 shirt as he was the first player signed for the coming season (and not that it is the number for a full back) and Spaven gets 23 in memory of some former football player! If Aizue is 42 then give him that number instead of trying to take ten years off his age (although I understand he is really 35).

If that's the case, I will ask the question again - what's the point of them? The numbers should be used to indicate position, not someone's ideal age or the first to be signed.

I think it has all been explained previously CF that it is to do with the cut and fit of modern shirts, which are bespoke for each individual player. One right wingman may be quite a different size to another for example so it could be unreasonable to expect the same shirt to fit both.

Clearly not. You yourself stated in an earlier post that it would be interesting to see what number players were given.

For us older members of the forum, numbers have very specific positional meanings and it has been hard getting used to a prop playing with the number 4 or a winger with the number 16, though in reality it made no difference.

Personally I used to be dead against squad numbers, but am now for them, and understand how they make sense.

Clearly not. You yourself stated in an earlier post that it would be interesting to see what number players were given.

For us older members of the forum, numbers have very specific positional meanings and it has been hard getting used to a prop playing with the number 4 or a winger with the number 16, though in reality it made no difference.

Personally I used to be dead against squad numbers, but am now for them, and understand how they make sense.

I think you're right. After all at one time they didn't necessarily all wear the same shirts (so GOR tells me anyway).